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It's been raining. And it's been very windy. And cold. Freezing cold. This week things finally abated, somewhat. There was not a lot of building action for the previous two weeks though. Apparently the roofers were not game to get up on the roof and do their thing while they have potential problems with flying pieces of iron, slippery timbers and general driving rain to content with. Wimps. They've come sporadically this week, and got a bit of the roof on, but we're far from finished.

And the steel windows were finally installed. Note I'm not writing with an exclamation point to indicate any happiness or excitement here. On Tuesday the window installing team turned up in a little minivan from Melbourne to do their thing. I was very excited - it was like when the Germans roll in on Grand Designs and with their incredible efficiency have an entire house built in 1 week. Well, we were far from that. It was like the bumbling C team were assigned to us. They had forgotten some major pieces of steel, fixings for the windows, and the installation brackets. So, they drove back to Melbourne, having put in a few of the windows (sans glass, that is all propped up on site, getting in the way) and will be back in 3 weeks time. I'm predicting that a letter from a Lawyer will be required to really get things moving......

This is the window in my kitchen though, and that's 3 year old S in front of it. He's pretty short, the bottom of the window is in line with the base units of the kitchen, and we have 4 meter high ceilings in here. I'm loving the view from where the sink will go (in the middle of it), especially as for the past 5 months my view has been a bricked in former window in the old kitchen.

Aside from the lack of action on the building site this week, I've had one win. I've finished the Kitchen plans! Hooray! I know that you (and I) had thought this day would never come, but after 6 months, they are done and off to the cabinet maker to price up. I'll post them during the week on the blog. Now I just have the laundry joinery (should be easy by comparison), the electrical plan (easy) and some details like the fireplace and stair detailing to sort out, some of which I've done this weekend.

I didn't do a lot this weekend that didn't revolve around kids and drafting, but the previous weekend I was out with old School friends. Last Saturday night, I went to Press to have dinner with school friend and former bridesmaid of mine J. We don't get to see each other a lot - J moved to Sydney around the same time that I moved to Melbourne, and she hasn't moved back home (yet. I'm still working on her), so she's been there for 13 years I think.

As it was freezing, I wore black wool. Wore this new this season jacket that I've been wearing a lot. The black matched my mood and the generally gloomy weather we've had. It has a bustle thing on the back and a big collar and makes a basic black outfit look more interesting. Wore my big dangly gold earrings to liven things up a bit. We ended up eating upstairs as they had a cancellation. It was full of large group booked tables, and the one next to us had ordered half a suckling pig, which the waiter then spent around 20 minutes carving up on a table next to us after it was ceremoniously paraded through the restaurant. It was quite the operation. They really like offal and other trendy things at Press.

The night before I went to dinner at Melt with old school friend L, whom I have known since we were 9. Turns out L is a closet blog reader, she found my blog after her husband was reading it and worked out it was me (we've never met - Hi G!). I have a few male readers. They clearly have to suffer through a lot of outfit posts for the stuff they come here for - renovation talk.

And it's been busy this week - as we've had a momentous occasion. E, my 5 year old started school. In Adelaide they take you into reception after you've turned 5. I can't believe my little cherub is off to school - it's gone in a flash. I swear she was a baby only 5 minutes ago.

Read this book, I think it deserves a whole post on its own, as needless to say I found Mrs Delaney absolutely fascinating. I'd definitely put her on my list of Dinner Party guests (except that she died around 220 years ago).

Took delivery of my Shoes of Shame. Those of you who didn't end up reading the comment stream on that post would have missed that Mr AV told me to buy them, and I always do what I'm told (that'll be news to him).

They match the bud of the first magnolia that will open tomorrow I hope on the tree in the front garden. I'm very excited, I love my magnolia tree.

39 comments:

First things first - those are the MOST spectacular shoes .. really... and the fact that they match your magnolia - just wonderful!!. Are your windows steel?... whatever they are - I really love the window above the sink. It is beautiful and how absolutely annoying that they were so badly disorganised. I missed out on the site meeting last week - pneumonia as it turned out!.... but SO looking forward to driving through to Bowral this week. I hope your roof hurries up and gets on ... I am so impressed and rather envious that you are able to draw up all of your joinery. Well done... hope it's appreciated! xx

Pneumonia?? Poor You! I hope you're feeling much, much better, you must've been feeling really rotten. Yes, the windows are Steel... they were the thing that I most wanted in the extension. And now they've been a massive pain in the neck! Hopefully things will work out ok without legal letters... but based on past renovations, you sometimes need to be more forceful. They do look beautiful though, and it's interesting seeing other Tradies reactions to them - they've not seen them before in Adelaide and all love them (my builder in particular, despite all the hassle with the company supplying them who have been very difficult to deal with). I'm hoping the roof gets on quickly too, fortunately we have good weather this week, so once it's on we can start on the interior fit out. Mr AV does not much appreciate me drafting. He completely takes it for granted. I pointed out to him how much money I was saving us by DIYing the Architectural component, and he vaguely acknowledged it, but likes to say I also cost a lot with my ideas! Honestly, I've been so flat out the past two weeks trying to finish drafting, plus all the other housework/ children related things I normally do. But so glad it's finished!!! xx

I honestly don't know how you do it all... and the pressure to finish the drawings must have been huge. Every time I show Mr R-I something I like - an idea - anything decor wise or for the garden - he says "mmm.... it looks very expensive" !! But don't they just love everything when it is all finished? xx

Ou always manage to match the subtlest of colors in everything! Now just keep walking around the tree and Mr AV will see the magic. First day at school was a great day for me and I hope she enjoyed it. Love the window lookout...xx

E was like a duck to water - absolutely loves being at school. I'm impatient now for the kitchen to go in - having finished the joinery plans, and now that the window is in place, I just want it finished! xx

Ah, the cold here, Central Coast of NSW has abated too. Bloody 'Murphy's Law' that you experienced wind for roof guys. I oft blame my hubby for local poor weather conditions depending on his current 'job'! The efficiency of the German engineering teams have impressed us too in those Grand Design Programmes.Congrats on finalising your kitchen specs....and your 'baby' starting school....definitely empathise with you there...Love the new shoes and support all those who can still wear them.(excuse my moment of jealousy!)

I really feel like we've been cursed the past two weeks KL... and we've woken up to rain (again) today after having a sunny and mild weekend. Grrrrrr! Wish we had access to the Germans here - they'd get things moving!I know I'm on the countdown to not wearing high, high heels. Until that moment, I'll enjoy them while I can xx

Dear HeidiLove the kitchen window! How splendid! Think of all the light and the view from it into the beautiful garden you will make. It is really coming on - so much progress. Also love the shoes. Do show a picture of them when you're wearing one of the lovely dresses. Have started working on a Facebook page and entering pics from our trip last year. There's one of a spectacular pair of pink shoes in a Paris window, different from yours but of similar ilk. I'm sure you'd love them. If Facebook will let me put up the photos from last year (so far have added albums for Paris, Antibes and Provence) will then begin on pics from Janelle's tour this year and my visit to Paris just before that. Though they're not a patch on shots by FF, HH or Janet. Best wishes, Pamela

Oh... another pair of lovely shoes? Best not to show me Pamela! I saw another pair that took my eye yesterday... but fortunately couldn't think of what I"d wear them with, so I may prove a little stronger and resist those! I'm still v. envious of all your wonderful travel... loved the shots I saw of the Garden Tour and really was green over the whole thing! xx

Oh I have such kitchen window envy!! I only wish our kitchen had the ability to host such splendid windows!The shoes are also divine! Such a beautiful colour and wonderful with your magnolia!Hope you can relax a bit now the kitchen plans are done.I think I'm going to keep my Mulberrys, as a trip to the local shops to find similar or better ones yielded absolutely no joy at all!

I think the window is going to make the kitchen - the rest of it is not huge at all, but I've managed to fit everything in, so it'll work well for us.Keep the Mulberry's - you lusted after them, and you're having a blue moment... they're meant to be! xx

Those shoes are beautiful, and potentially very economical (assuming you wear them every few days). I can just imagine you wearing them while you supervise your window installation team! Your description of the bumbling C team, made me laugh out loud. Love the window in the kitchen though. Good luck!

I'm sure I'll be wearing the shoes every few days.... tottering around on the school run, cleaning the house, grocery shopping and general child wrangling.... really, they're practical everyday kind of shoes I think. The installers were frankly ridiculous!! Unfortunately steel windows are only manufactured by 3 companies in Australia, so we chose the best of a bad bunch. xx

Dear Heidi,I feel your pain! As a fellow Adelaidean (recent...but still going...) renovator - I know how stressful, disappointing and exasperating the whole experience can be. Especially when you chose to do something "outside the box" (as in building a box on the back!)We are still recovering from a 19 month renovation (after preparing for a 9-12 month renovation) that has left us a bit bitter and twisted I have to say. I really hope the window installation is your only woe. They do look fabulous! Sure it will all be worth it in the end and the only thing missing will be the lovely Kevin McC patting you on the back (after kissing you on each cheek) to congratulate you! Take care (and the shoes look fabulous BTW! Well done.)Cx

Hello C, your lovely comment has cheered me up no end (aside from the bit about your 9-12 month reno taking 19 months....). I'd so love it if Kevin was there to pat me on the back both before and after the whole ordeal. I definitely have a soft spot for him. Fingers crossed the windows are in fact the only problem, although I suspect there will be a few to come yet! Hope you're enjoying your place, and that the bad memories in time fade! xx

Oh boy Heidi ... nothing like a bumbling C team to take the shine off everything! Must be a window thing ... a lot of the problems on Grand Designs seem to be about windows/glass. I feel your pain having been through similar problems with our renovations. I still have nightmares about our three claims (two water damage + one impact damage) through our builders insurance! Speaking of insurance, I had a bad start to the week when I found my car damaged in the car park after work this afternoon! Here's to better rest of the week! I am seriously in love with your kitchen window ... sensational. Love your shoes too. Jo xx

Oh no Jo - how awful. Pour yourself a big glass of wine tonight.... I hope your insurance claim on this one is relatively painless. You're right too - almost all the Grand Design disasters revolve around windows (wrong size/ damaged/ don't arrive in time/ incredibly expensive). Looks like we're suffering the same curse! At least my shoes have lifted my mood somewhat....! Hope you have a better week too. xx

Oh my, you got the shoes!! They look fabulous!!!! I know I had said earlier to wait for a sale, but that was erring on the side of practicality, which is very boring. So glad your husband told you to get them!

The kitchen window is incredible, the kitchen (and I'm sure, the whole house) will be absolutely stunning by the time it is all done.

They had a little bit more of a discount, plus a coupon, so I decided that was probably enough waiting! It will hopefully all be lovely when it is finished... but it's a slow and fairly depressing process at the moment! xx

Heidi, the house is looking fabulous. Love the huge windows, they look so gorgeous, however very annoying to hear about other window dilemma. I LOVED that episode of Grand Designs. My dream house would definitely be a Huf Haus. Shoes are amazing - great purchase. I haven't used Bluefly before, however I do occasionally go on their website to see what deals they have xxx

Oh - If only the Germans would come here. My house would be built in a flash! I love the Huf Haus's as well. So cleverly designed. I haven't used Bluefly before either - they ramped the shipping right up around 2 or 3 years ago, so it was not worth buying through them. It's come down significantly, but is still high compared to NAP and Theoutnet etc. They do have good deals though.... and I do love a coupon code! xx

The shoes are fabulous Heidi. I'm really glad that you got them and am sure that you will enjoy wearing them. Great to see the house photos. I'm starting to see just how great it is going to look. I'm sure the huge amount of work will pay off. Looking forward to seeing the kitchen designs.x

I can't wait to wear the Shoes of Shame. Just need the weather to warm up a bit. I'm not fond of cold feet! You can really see how the house is going to look now - it's making me excited, even if things have been moving at a glacial pace the past few weeks. xx

Not sure what is more exciting, that window (huge gorgeous amazing outlook) or those shoes (best colour in the world and how lovely of your magnolia to come to the party with a match). Must be the window curse as the biggest dramas on our reno have involved our (expensive ) window company and their rubbish communication with our builder. Finally our kitchen window went in late last week and it looks fabbo but gee could have been done without all the pain and drama. Hang in there, hopefully sunshine will prevail and your roof will be on. mel x

What is it with windows? I was talking to my Builder about lawyer letters if things don't start moving on it, and was reminded that we had to do the same thing, with the windows being delayed!! That was a bit worse though as we were living in the house, and the whole facade was off (in Winter) which was a security risk as well as being freezing and wet. Glad to hear your window is in - how exciting, you're almost ready to move back in aren't you? xx

Shoes look fantastic Heidi as do the windows. Must be incredibly frustrating when things don't go to plan b/c of weather, disorganised trades etc. I have never renovated, but am feeling for you. PS. Tried a variation on your chocolate cake recipe (of which I make at least once a week now). Substituted cocoa for lemon rind/juice and it was very well received. Have a great week. Karen x

Oh Yum! I'll have to give your variation a try Karen, sounds great. I'm so glad to hear you're making it once a week.. I've never used a packet cake mix because frankly, it's just as easy with recipes like that - they're so quick and easy. xx

Peace I'd say... he was slightly in the dog house for his wonderful trip to France where he brought home a full Tour de France cycling kit for one of his clients, and appeared on the local news here celebrating with the stage winners.... but managed not to bring even a bottle of duty free perfume home for me. The shoes are my little present from France I think! xx